Curtain drier



Oct. 1, 1940.

A. P. KUTSCHE CURTAIN DRIER Filed may 1a, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 1, 1940. A. P. KUTSCHE CURTAIN DRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 16, 1938 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 1, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CURTAIN DRIER Alfred P. Kutsche, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application May 16, 1938, Serial No. 208,113

3 Claims.

My present invention relates in general to improvements in the art of drying, and relates more specifically to various improvements in the construction and operation of machines for 'dry- 5 ing fabrics such as curtains.

Generally defined, an object of my present invention is to provide an improved drier which is simple and compact in construction, and which is also highly efiicient in operation. 7

It has heretofore been common practice in the art of cleaning curtains and the like, to stretch the individual curtains on racks or frames, after washing has been effected and prior to drying, in order to prevent undesirable shrinkage of the curtains during the final drying operation. In cases where large numbers of curtains are handled, the drying frames are usually formed with opposite sides each of which is adapted to accomodate a dozen or more superimposed and independently stretched curtains of various sizes, and each of the frames is mounted so that one side thereof may be unloaded and reloaded, while the curtains on its opposite side are being dried. Although these prior drying machines are fairly satisfactory, they are also relatively objection able for various reasons. Due to the fact that the loading and unloading operation requires only about one half of the time that is required for thorough drying of a batch of curtains, the operators using such prior machines must wait for completion of each drying operation and consequently waste considerable time which might be untilized in removing dried curtains and in applying a fresh batch of wet ones if the machines were properly constructed. Then too, the prior machines are relatively difiicult to load and unload, and to manipulate; and they are not adapted to quickly and effectively dry the curtains because of improper application of the drying medium.

My present invention therefore contemplates provision of an improved drying machine especially adapted for drying fabrics such as curtains, which may be conveniently operated with minimum. loss of time, and wherein drying is most effectively accomplished.

My invention further contemplates use of a drying frame which is triangular in cross section to provide three useful sides, together with novel means for circulating heated air to provide for even distribution thereof and for efficient drying of curtains on two sides of the frame while the third side is exposed for removal and loading.

1, A further object of the invention is to provide a drier as above described wherein the heated air is directed downwardly along and through the curtains, said downward movement conforming to the natural movement of air which is losing its heat and which is absorbing moisture. 5

A further object of the invention is to provide in a device as above described having air directing ducts, means for insuring that said air sweeps the curtains throughout the entire length of the drying frame.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a curtain drier of the class described, simple and effective means for releasably locking the drying frame in a desired position.

A clear conception of embodiments of the sev- 5 eral features constituting my present improvement, and of the mode of constructing and of operating driers built in accordance with my invention, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this 20 specification wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one of my im proved drier units especially adapted for the 25 treatment of curtains of various kinds;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the drier unit of Fig. 1, taken along the line 2 -2;

Fig. 3 is another transverse vertical section 30 through the unit of Fig. 1, taken along the line 33;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the drier assemblage; Fig. 5 is fragmentary section taken longitudinally of the drier along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; 35

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view showing the drum locking mechanism in looking position;

Fig. '7 is a similar view showing the mechanism in drum releasing position; 40

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on line l0l0 of Fig. 6.

While my invention has ben shown and described herein as being specifically applied to a drier unit having a rotary triangular fabric supporting frame especially adapted for drying curo tains of various sizes with heated air, it is not the intent to thereby unnecessarily restrict the scope, since many of the improved features are obviously more generally applicable.

Referring to the drawings, my improved curtain drier as illustrated, comprises in general a main casing l4 having a transverse partition l5 therein and dividing the casing interior into segregated drying and air heating chambers I6, 11 respectively; a triangular drum l8 rotatably mounted upon studs l9 supported by the casing 14; independent curtain stretching and supporting mechanism carried by each of the flat outer faces of the drum l8; conduits 20 extending along the upper front and rear edges of the casing l4 and having openings 2| formed to direct jets of heating medium such as warm air downwardly into the chamber I6 and along the curtains suspended upon the inclined lower faces of the drum I8; elongated ducts 22 communicating with the lower interior of the casing I4 through openings 23 Which extend throughout the length thereof, and communicating with the air heating chamber IT; a heater 24 and an air circulating fan 25 disposed within the end chamber H, the suction side of the fan 25 communicating with the chamber I! while the discharge thereof communicates with the heating chamber 24 and with an upper transverse chamber 26 which directs heated air into the conduits 20; and mechanism for locking the rotary drum in various positions of adjustment'.

The main casing l4 and the frame drum l8 may be formed of sheet metal, and are preferably reenforced wherever necessary so as to provi'de the requisite stiffness and durability; and whenever one of the flat faces of the drum is disposed horizontally as in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the drying chamber I6 is substantially closed at its top and the other two curtain drying faces of the drum I 8 are disposed within this chamber being inclined substantially sixty degrees relative to the bottom of the casing l4. The jets of heated air or other heating medium delivered from both of the conduits 20 through the open- ,ings 2|, will then be delivered toward the curtain suspending inclined faces of the drum l8 at an angle as indicated by the dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2, this effect being produced by the angle of the delivery walls of the conduits 20. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the lower ducts 22 to which the moisture laden air from within the chamber I6 is delivered through the multiplicity of openings 23, direct the spent drying air which still contains considerable heat, to the air heating chamber I! for re-use if so desired. Said ducts are positioned in otherwise wasted space of the casing. The chamber I1 is also provided with a screened fresh air inlet 30; and the heater 22 may be heated with steam or other hot gas admitted through a valve controlled supply pipe 3!, or it may be otherwise heated as with electricity. gas or oil. The fan 25 may be operated by an electric motor 32 located outside of the chamber H. The heating chamber I1 is also preferably provided with a conveniently removable top cover 33, and the chamber 26 may have an angular baffle 26' to direct heated air in both directions to both ducts 20.

The mechanism for stretching and supporting the individual curtains, is shown in Fig.1, and a set of this mechanism is associated with each of the three longitudinally extending flat faces of the drum I8. Each of these drum faces has a transverse strip 34 of carding cloth or wire spanning each of its opposite ends. Transverse rods 4-! cooperating with apertures in side rails 42 may be used in the well known manner to aid in supporting the curtains. As shown in Fig. 1, longitudinal strips 40 of carding cloth or wire extend substantially from one transverse end strip 34 to the other, and the strips 4!) are adjustable along the racks 35 in a well known manher to any desired position in order to accommodate curtains of various widths. The exposed faces of the carding strips 34, 40 are provided with prongs all terminating in approximately the same plane for cooperation with the curtains.

The mechanism for locking the revolving drum E8 in adjusted position is shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 640, and this mechanism consists of foot pedals 53 mounted on the opposite sides of the casing l4 and cooperating with a horizontal shaft 68 through links BI and levers 62. The shaft 66 is mounted in bearings 63 carried by an end wall of the casing i4, and carries an arm 64, the swinging end of which coacts with a locking dog pivotally supported by the main casing end wall. The inner end of the dog 65 extends through a slot 65 in the end of the casing and has an inner tapered end which is cooperable with slots E6 in plates El secured to each corner f the end of the drum. The assemblage is obviously such that when either foot pedal 53 is actuated in one direction, the dog 65 will be withdrawn from the adjacent slot 66, whereas opposite actuation of either pedal 58 will cause the dog 85 to enter the approaching or adjacent slot :36 to thereby positively lock the drum it against further rotation until the locking dog is again withdrawn.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 5, the apertures 25 in" the longitudinal ducts 29 are on the angular faces of said ducts, preferably near the upper portion thereof, and extend substantially throughout the length of said ducts. In view of the fact that the heated air is admitted from the chamber 26 to the left hand ends of the ducts 2d (referring to Fig. it is obvious that said air, under pressure of the fan, would normally follow the path of least resistance, which is straight, and flow to the opposite end of the ducts. A static pressure would then be built up with the result that the majority of air would be discharged from apertures on the right hand end, referring to Fig. 5, and that air would therefore not be directed against the curtains throughout the length of the drying frame. Accordingly in the end nearest to the heating chamber, bafiies 68 which are substantially vertical in disposition are used, and other angularly disposed baiiies 69 are positioned below the bafiies (-28. With this baffle arrangement the air entering the left hand ends of the ducts, referring to Fig. 5, will strike said baflies, and some of said air will then be directed outwardly through the apertures 2! adjacent the baffles. Other air, however, will continue toward the other end of the ducts where there are no baffles and will be discharged through the other apertures. The arrangement therefore insures relatively even distribution of the air throughout the length of the ducts so that some of the air will be discharged from each aperture to thereby sweep the drying frame throughout the length of the latter.

It is to be noted that the return ducts 22, which have ends communicating with the heating chamber l'i, are positioned at the bottom of the casing to insure the drying of the bottom of the curtains; and the intake apertures 23, which extend throughout the length of the ducts 22, are positioned as near the bottom of the casing as possible. Due to the triangular shape of the drying frame, there is necessarily waste space at the bottom corners of the casing, and the ducts Fill have been shaped to effectively utilize this waste. space without interfering with the rotation of the drying frame.

During normal operation of the improved dry-- ing machine the motor 32 is operated to propel the fan 25, and air is drawn from the chamber ill by said fan, circulated past the heater 24 and into the transverse upper chamber 26. The vshaped baflle 2t directs the air in two directions, as indicated by arrows in Fig. 3 toward the inlet ends of the longitudinal ducts 2E]. The air will be evenly distributed throughout the ducts 2b, as heretofore described, and will be delivered from the openings 2i toward and across the stretched curtains on two sides of the frame as indicated in Fig. 2. This air will evaporate and remove moisture from the curtains as it passes downwardly toward the openings 23 and into the return ducts 22. Due to the angular apertured faces of the ducts 211, the air is directed at an oblique angle with respect to the curtains to most effectively dry the same from top to bottom. It is apparent that each face of the drying frame is twice exposed to the drying. action, and the unloading and reloading operation of the accessible face of the frame requires approximately one-half of the time required for complete dryi-ng of a previously applied batch of curtains so that when a reloading operation has been finished, another batch of curtains will be ready for removal, and the third batch will be moved to a position for its second and final stage of drying. In this manner it is apparent that no time is lost by operators awaiting final dryingof a previously applied batch, and the operation of the machine is therefore substantially continuous.

The mechanism for locking the drum l8 in successive positions of adjustment can obviously be conveniently manipulated and serves to firmly retain the rotor in adjusted position so that there is no danger of the drum rotating when an operator applies pressure to the exposed face thereof.

By returning the previously heated air to the chamber II, the heat losses will obviously be reduced to a minimum.

From the foregoing detailed description of the construction and operation of the present improved drying machine, it will be apparent that the invention provides a dryer which is simple and compact in construction, and which is moreover highly efiicient and flexible in use. The polygonal formation of the curtain supporting frame or drum l8, obviously eliminates loss of operators time while insuring efficient removal of the moisture. While this frame has been illustrated as being triangular in form, it may also have other polygonal forms without departing from the scope of the present invention, since some of the advantages are obviously obtainable by providing more sides to the frame. The downward inclination of the curtain suspending faces while they are located within the drying chamber, is especially desirable because it enhances the removal of moisture and thereby improves the drying action. The entire assemblage is moreover extremely durable in construction and may be safely operated at minimum cost.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of operation herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a drier, a casing forming a drying chamber, a revolving frame having a series of peripheral fabric supporting faces forming a rotor of polygonal transverse cross-section, means for supporting said rotor so that at least two of said faces are simultaneously exposed to said chamber with one longitudinal edge of a face near the top of the casing and with one longitudinal edge near the bottom of the casing while another is freely accessible from the exterior of said casing, means for delivering heating medium downwardly to pass along said chamber exposed faces from the upper longitudinal edges thereof to the lower longitudinal edges, and means at the bottom of the chamber for conducting moisture laden air away from the lower portion of said chamber and for maintaining the downward movement of said air.

2. In a drier, a casing forming a drying chamber, a revolving frame having a series of peripheral fabric supporting faces forming a rotor of polygonal transverse cross-section, means for supporting said rotor so that at least two of said faces are simultaneously exposed to said chamber with one longitudinal edge of a face near the top of the casing and with one longitudinal edge near the bottom of the casing while another is freely accessible from the exterior of said casing, and means for delivering gaseous drying medium downwardlyrinto said chamber at oblique angles relative to said faces to pass along said chamber exposed faces from the upper longitudinal edges thereof to the lower longitudinal'edges through and along fabric supported on said faces.

3. In a drier, a casing forming a drying chamber, a revolving frame having a series of peripheral fabric supporting faces forming a rotor of polygonal transverse cross-section, means for supporting said rotor so that at least two of said faces are simultaneously exposed to said chamber with one longitudinal edge of a face near the top of the casing and with one longitudinal edge near the bottom of the casing while another is freely accessible from the top of the-easing, a duct extending longitudinally of the casing at the top of each side thereof, each duct having aperturesv throughout the major portion of its length for directing heater air along said frame faces, means for forcing said heated air into said ducts adjacent one end thereof to travel in a longitudinal direction therein, and battles in an initial portion of the length of said ducts for preventing said air from rushing past said initial portions and for causing even distribution of the air in said ducts so that it will be discharged from apertures throughout the length thereof, the apertured portions of the ducts being disposed to deliver the heated air downwardly to pass along said chamber exposed faces of the revolving frame from the upper longitudinal edges of said faces to the lower longitudinal edges through and along fabric support on said faces.

ALFRED P. KUTSCI-IE. 

